Context
- Kerala has been witnessing protests over the proposed offshore mining along its coast. Last week, MPs and legislators protested in Delhi against the plan, and earlier this month, the state Assembly unanimously urged the Centre to abandon the offshore mining proposal.
About the Act
- OAMDR Act, governing the development of mineral resources in the country’s maritime zones, was amended in 2023.
- As per the OAMDR Act, ‘offshore area’ means the territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone and other maritime zones of India.
- Section 2 of the Act grants the Centre control over mines and minerals in offshore areas.
- Previously, offshore excavation was managed by central government bodies like Geological Survey of India (GSI), Indian Bureau of Mining and Atomic Minerals Directorate. However, the amendment has opened offshore mining to the private sector.
Issues
- The amended Act unveiled a competitive auction process to encourage private sector participation in the exploration of offshore resources such as polymetallic nodules, lime-mud, and construction sand.
- In November last year, the Centre launched the first e-auction of 13 offshore blocks, including three off the Kerala coast (Kollam), three off Gujarat, and seven in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with a proposed lease duration of 50 years.
- Fisherman communities are concerned that the newly amended Act, which grants the Centre control over offshore resources, could hamper their livelihood, as fishing and related activities up to 12 nautical miles remain a State subject under the Constitution’s Seventh Schedule.
- Kollam Parappu, or Quilon Bank, is a highly productive fishing ground on India’s southwest coast, and mining in this area would lead to a decline in marine catch.
The Union government’s response
- The Union mining ministry has told the state that the three blocks off the Kollam coast are beyond 12 nautical miles, and thus are not under the Kerala government.
- Government stated that offshore mining blocks were created after excluding 130 marine protected areas and that 106 coastal sites have been designated as Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs) for marine conservation.
- The Centre announced the formation of the Offshore Areas Mineral Trust, with coastal states as members, to use its funds for mitigating ecological impacts and supporting affected communities.